The Ottoman Army of Shakir Pasha, some 14,000 men,[3] was on retreat from the village of Kamarli towards Sofia and Boyacık.

2,400–4,000 men, 7 guns and two cavalry squadrons of Shakir Pasha's army had been detached under the command of Valentine Baker, a British-born Ottoman general.

The superior Russian army surrounded the Ottomans, but its troops were scattered over a large territory, could not unite together and were slowed by deep snow, winter storm and difficult mountain terrain,[10] so that only a part of them engaged;[8] having a strong defensive position and with weather in their favour, the Ottomans successfully managed to hold off the advancing Russian forces for ten hours,[6] allowing Shakir Pasha to withdraw, and hastily retreated as soon as the firing died down.

[8][5] During the night panic broke out in the Ottoman ranks, after rumours spread that the Russians had made a flanking movement.

One of his officers, Allix, accompanied by some men, advanced on the village that had just been captured by the Russians and Bulgarians.